The best way to visit Venice is to do it off the beaten track.
An ancient city explored for over a millennium, it can be hard to find lesser-known attractions.
Fortunately, this handy guide to Venice's hidden treasures is the ideal starting point.
Here you'll find all the information you need for a vacation in secret Venice.
Venice off the beaten track: article summary
- Venice off the beaten track: the island of San Giorgio Maggiore
- Campo San Maurizio
- Venice off the beaten track: Venice's hidden canals
- Dorsoduro
- Venice off the beaten track: the Contarini del Bovolo staircase
- The Jewish Quarter
- Venice off the beaten track: the flooded crypt of San Zaccaria
- Squero San Trovaso
- Venice off the beaten track: a visit to the secret rooms of the Doge's Palace
- Santa Croce
Venice off the beaten track: the island of San Giorgio Maggiore
You can see the Venetian island of San Giorgio Maggiore from the place Saint-Marc or get off the beaten track and visit it yourself. San Giorgio Maggiore is a small island not far from San Marco and Castello. You can get there in just a few minutes using the Vaporetto 2 line.
The island is best known for the church of San Giorgio Maggiore and the Campanile di San Giorgio bell tower. While this may be a short day trip, it's well worth it. You can see the impressive church built in 1566 and painted by Monet. For only around €6, you can take an elevator to the top of the bell tower.
Campo San Maurizio
Along the city's narrow streets, you may come across the charming Campo San Maurizio. Compared to other Venetian attractions, this place is still in its infancy.
The flea market opened in 1970. It's a place where shoppers can pick up precious curiosities from the 17th to the 20th century. However, you'll need to plan your trip carefully. The market is only open five weekends (Friday to Sunday) a year.
If you miss these days, you're still in an ideal location close to many restaurants, bars and cafés. Try the nearby Teamo bar and Enoteca Al Volto for classic Venetian-style food and wine. You're also close to many attractions, including La Scala Contarini del Bovolo.
Venice off the beaten track: Venice's hidden canals
Observing life on the Grand Canal is one of the many reasons why people love to visit Venice. Just like the city's narrow streets, Venice's lagoon also has a few hidden canals that take you away from the masses.
One tip to remember when traveling is to look for restaurants and bars where many locals sit. This usually means they're cheap and serve good food. Canals from Fondamenta della Misericordia to Cannaregio take you on a journey a quiet road with restaurants full of locals.
Castello is another great neighborhood with canals that aren't overcrowded with tourists, which is always a good sign. These quiet canals are where you'll find parks, gardens, a few cafés and floating food markets where residents stock up on fresh produce.
Dorsoduro
Dorsoduro is home to many hidden gems. The region is best known for its remarkable art galleries and museums.
The Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Punta Della Dogana and Ca' Rezzonico offer elegant views for art lovers. These museums and galleries showcase magnificent works by local and international artists over the centuries.
Another exciting place to see is Ponte dei Pugni. It's a 17th-century bridge with a strange name and history. Ponte dei Pugni, which translates as "the bridge of fists", is a bridge between the narrow streets of Venice, popularized by boxing matches.
Venice off the beaten track: the Contarini del Bovolo staircase
Visit Scala Contarini del Bovolo is part of a magnificent palazzo in the San Marco district. The staircase of a building is rarely the main attraction, but this multi-storey spiral staircase is a photographer's dream.
Not only do you get incredible shots on your ascent, but once at the top, you'll also have a panoramic view of the city and the Grand Canal. The 80-step staircase was commissioned in the 15th century and is a blend of Renaissance, Gothic and Venetian-Byzantine architectural styles.
It is relatively easy to reach Scala Contarini del Bovolo from the Rialto bridge and Piazza San Marco. You'll need to buy an €8 ticket to enter the palacethe staircase and the Tintoretto room, brimming with Venetian art from the 16th and 18th centuries.
The Jewish Quarter
Did you know that the word ghetto comes from the Italian word "getto", which roughly translates as "district"? In fact, Venice had its first segregated district in 1516, when the government forcibly relocated the Jewish population to this area. It's also sometimes referred to as the "Jewish ghetto".
You can visit this area in one of the city's six districts: Cannaregio. Despite its troubled past, this is where you'll discover part of the soul of Venice. The Jewish Quarter has over 500 years of history.
The main square is home to the Jewish Museum and some of the city's oldest synagogues, where you can learn more about the region's past. Don't forget to stroll the streets, looking at the various palaces, churches and the narrowest street in town.
Venice off the beaten track: the flooded crypt of San Zaccaria
There are many beautiful churches dedicated to the saints in Venice. The church of San Zaccaria is no different. It is dedicated to Saint Zaccaria, the father of John the Baptist. It's certainly one of Venice's most fascinating hidden gems.
The structure has undergone some renovation and restructuring, but the earliest writings about the structure date back to the 7ᵉ century. The current building still has some 9th- and 12th-century tiles visible among well-preserved frescoes, altarpieces and sculptures.
While no one can deny that the building is magnificent, that's not why most travelers visit. They come for the underground crypt housing eight doges buried between the 9th and 12th centuries, including Saint Zaccaria.
The crypt is permanently flooded. This means that visitors can walk around and get close to the tombs. if they don't mind getting a little water in their boots.
Squero San Trovaso
Built in the 17th century, the Squero San Trovaso is the city's oldest working gondola workshop. The wooden shipyard (squero) may seem a little old-fashioned. However, it produces some of the most beautiful gondolas you'll ever see. seen on the water during your stay.
You can take a guided tour of the workshop, but many tourists and locals prefer to watch from a distance. Just across the canal from this ancient workshop is Osteria al Squero, where many people quietly watch the masters at work.
The small, rustic bar is a quiet, unobtrusive spot overlooking the district of Dorsoduro. The tavern's friendly staff make it a wonderful place to relax after a busy day.
Venice off the beaten track: a visit to the secret rooms of the Doge's Palace
Visit Doge's PalaceThe Palazzo Ducale, or Palazzo Ducale in Italian, is on the itinerary of many tourists visiting Venice. The structure, as we see it today, was built in 1424 as the residence of the chief magistrate of the Republic of Venice and neighboring Genoa.
Over the years, the Gothic structure underwent several renovations after various fires. It also briefly housed a courtroom and a prison. While the Doge's Palace is popular, few tourists are familiar with its secret rooms.
A tour of the secret itineraries through the Doge's Palace takes curious visitors into the halls and chambers where previous governing bodies carried out their most important tasks. The tour also takes a dark turn in the "Chamber of Torments" and Piombi's prisons.
Santa Croce
If you're looking for a slower pace and a taste of local life, then you'll love the Santa Croce. The quiet neighborhood doesn't see many tourists, as it's a residential community.
Although there are few points of interest, it's the ideal place to explore Venice's hidden gems. The best way to experience this is to stroll through the its cobbled alleys filled with greenery, and sit down to a treat in one of the cafés.
A visit off the beaten track is the best way to discover Venice. During your stay, don't hesitate to get away from the crowds and visit the lesser-known places.
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